A pair of bills being heard in the California legislature this week designate a “benchmark” health plan on which benefits would be based beginning 2014.

The Affordable Care Act outlines ten categories of
care that people can expect starting in 2014.

They range from mental health treatment to dental and vision
care for kids.

The states are charged with helping to
define the essential benefits.

That's why Democratic State Senator Ed Hernandez authored
his bill.

HERNANDEZ: "Which will guarantee all health coverage
products sold in California are quality products that
offer consumers robust coverage by setting the floor that
products for sale in California must meet."

Assemblymember Bill Monning authored the other bill.

He says for a long time, California lawmakers have been
proposing.

MONNING: "The Affordable Care Act actually allows up to do
it in a more methodical manner, in a manner we can be assured
will not result in unintended consequences to the state's
budget."

Both bills based their essential benefits on a Kaiser
HMO small group plan.

Home health care is covered in this one, so is acupuncture and
bariatric surgery.

The health insurance industry in California has traditionally
been opposed to new insurance requirements.

But Patrick Johnston of the California Association of Health
Plans says they're on board with federal health reform, and
creating these "essential benefits" for future health
consumers.

JOHNSTON: "It makes sure that when we have exchanges… that
they can look at health benefits and not be confused, that they
will know that they get broad coverage and where they need
it, they will get subsidies to help pay for that coverage."

The essential health benefit bills are expected to be revised
and amended as they move through the state legislature.